Apparatus for testing metal containers



Sept. 24, 1935. wER-D 2,015,208

APPARATUS FOR TESTING METAL CONTAINERS- Filed Jan. 10, 1931 INVENTOR A TTORNE KS Patented Sept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR TESTING METAL CONTAINERS John F. Werder, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Edmund Rogers, South Euclid,

Ohio

Application January 10, 1931, Serial vNo. 507,930

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for testing containers which are intended to withstand substantial internal pressure. 7

Although capable of any use to which such container may be put, yet in the present instance,

the container may be formed of metal or any other suitable material and is used for the packaging of a gas-charged liquid, as for instance, a lubricant for automobiles. In the present case, 10 there is employed a metal container which may be constructed of tinplate and which includes the familiar longitudinal seam as well as the two head seams. This container is intended to withstand substantial internal pressure for the discharge of the lubricant therefrom. As a precautionary and preliminary measure, that is, prior to the charging of the container with the gas-charged liquid, applicant has herein provided a convenient form of apparatus by which the container may be subjected to substantial internal pressure corresponding at least to the pressure of the gas-charged liquid with which it Will later be filled, so that any leaks can be discovered and repaired. Otherwise, such leaks would mean the loss of the contents of the container.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to devise an apparatus by which the containers may be tested and any leaks discovered prior to the filling of the same with the gascharged liquid.

A further object consists in devising such an apparatus in which the containers, while being subjected to such internal pressure, Will be removed at a safe distance from the normal position of the hand of the operator so as to prevent any injury which might result from the explosion of the container under such pressure.

A still further object consists in devising such 40 an apparatus of comparatively simple form and capable of convenient and speedy operation together with a conveniently arranged means for indicating any leak in the container. 7

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims'when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 shows my improved form of apparatus in elevation with a part'thereof shown in section; Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view of the detachable connecting means between the testing apparatus and the container.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely for purposes of illustration and that there may be devised various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention as herein claimed.

The metal container l is provided in its one end with a valve casing 2 which is adapted for screw-thread engagement with a valve member 5 for opening and closing the passage therethrough and for the discharge of the contents through the outlet 3. Connected to the valve casing and extending longitudinally of the container is the siphon tube 4. During the testing operation, the 10 valve member is removed from the casing 2 and in lieu thereof, there is connected with the valve casing by screw-thread engagement the connection 5 at the lower end of the air tube 6, that is, the container is connected to the lower end of the 15 tube 6 by means of the connection just referred to. The tube 6 extends transversely through the main air supply pipe line I and has air-tight connection therewith by means of the sleeves 8 through which the tube 6 is adapted to be ad- 20 justed vertically by sliding the same up and down therethrough. The tube 6 in each case is closed at its upper end and is provided with an aperture 9 extending transversely therethrough so as to provide communication between the main 25 pipe line I and the tube 6 when in lowered position, that is, when the aperture 9 is in position within the tube 7. The sleeves 8 through which the tube 6 is arranged for up and down adjustment, are provided upon the pipe connections 1 30 between the sections 1 of the main supply line. Upon each pipe 6, there is fixedly mounted a handle ID at proper elevation for raising and lowering the tube 6 so as to bring the aperture 9 into either operative or inoperative position with 35 1 respect to the supply line I and at the same time to locate the container l within the water-filled container II, or to remove the same therefrom. Any suitable means of air pressure supply may be connected at the end 1* of the line I and there 40 is interposed a gauge l2 to indicate the degree of pressure. Any number of slidable-tubes 6 may be provided upon the supply line 1, and there will be provided also a corresponding number of water-filled compartments into which the con- 45 tainers upon the lower ends of the tubes 6 may be projected for the testing operation.

When the tube 6 in each case is in raised position, the aperture 9 is out of communication with the supply line I and the lower end. of the tube 6 is elevated sufliciently above the level of-the water in the container II to permit attachment of the container thereto by screw-thread engagement, as already indicated. The tube 6 is raised to such elevated position by means of the handle [0 which 55 upon striking the lower sleeve 8, will limit the up- Ward movement thereof. Then when the container I has been attached in such manner to the lower end of the tube 6, it will be lowered by means of the handle I0 so as to project the container into the Water so as to become completely submerged thereby and at the same time to bring the aperture 9 within the pipe line I for supply of air pressure therethrough to the tube 6 and into the container I, that is, as soon as the container has been completely submerged. These parts are so constructed and arranged, however, that the aperture 9 will not be brought into communicating position within the pipe line 1 until the container I has been lowered to such an extent that it is completely submerged within the waterfilled container I I. No other operation is necessary to communicate the air pressure to the container I, as such pressure at all times is available in the pipe line I. Only a brief interval of time is required'for the application of the pressure through the tube 6 to the container I in order to determine whether there are any leaks in the container or in the valve connections. Any such leaks will be indicated by the bubbling of the water as the air escapes from the container. As soon as the operator has determined the presence or absence of leaks within the container, the tube 8 will be elevated by means of the handle It? so as to permit the removal of the container I therefrom and the attachment of another container to be subjected to the same test. Any leak which has been discovered may then be repaired. The tube 6 in each case is of such length that the container upon being subjected to such internal pressure is removed from the point of the handle I0 to such an extent that there is precluded any danger to the hand of the operator as might otherwise be caused as a result of the explosion of the container by such pressure.

Thus, I have devised a comparatively simple and convenient form of apparatus for the con tainers which may be attached, tested, and removed at a comparatively high rate of speed and in which the operation is without danger to the operator because of the automatic positioning of the containers at a comparatively remote point with respect to the hand of the operator during the application of such pressure to the container.

What I claim is:

1. Testing apparatus for a metal container of the type having a valve body, said apparatus comprising a pressure supply line, extendable tubular means affording communication between said pressure supply line and the valve body and container, means for connecting said tubular means with said Valve body, said tubular means having a port so located that when said tubular means is in withdrawn position, said port is open to the outside atmosphere, and when said tubular means is in extended position, said port is in communication with said pressure supply line so as to permit application of pressure to the container, whereby successive containers may be applied to and removed from said tubular means when in withdrawn position and the container may be subjected to pressure only when in extended position, said parts being so constructed and arranged that the container will be substantially removed from the normal manipulating position of the hands of the operator during the application of pressure to the container.

2. Testing apparatus for metal containers, comprising a pressure supply line, tubular means adjustable along a straight line for supporting and extensibly connecting the container to said pressure supply line, a valve in said connecting means for controlling the supply of pressure, means for containing a liquid' into which the container may be projected when said extensible means is in longitudinally extended position for indicating leaks in the container, and means whereby said valve will be automatically rendered effective for transmission of pressure when said container is projected along a straight line fully into said liquid and Will be rendered effective for release of such pressure from the container upon said container being withdrawn therefrom, thereby affording protection to the operator.

3. Testing apparatus for metal containers, comprising a pressure supply line, tubular means adjustable along a straight line for supporting and extensibly connecting a container to said pres-v sure supply line, said extensible means having a lateral opening therethrough for establishing communication between said pressure supply line and the container when said extensible means is in longitudinally extended position, and for establishing discharge communication between the container and the outside atmosphere when said extensible means is in withdrawn position, whereby successive containers may be applied toand removed from said extensible means when in Withdrawn position and the container will be subjected to pressure only when said extensible means is in extended. position, thereby affording protection to the operator.

JOHN F. WERDER. 

